Politics

QP Live: Has it really been six weeks?

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Where does your average opposition politician start after six weeks away from the House of Commons?

The Prime Minister found his way into the Middle East, and took about 200 people along for the ride. An Egyptian-Canadian is sitting in a prison, without charge. Ukraine is bitterly divided along ethnic lines, and protesters in the streets seek western support. So, all things considered, does the average opposition politician ask the government about foreign affairs?

A train carrying petroleum products derailed in New Brunswick, exploded, and burned for days. A second train derailed in New Brunswick just hours ago—nothing spilled, no explosion, but plenty of anxious residents in Saint-Basile. Republican legislators in Washington, D.C. want to force the agenda and approve Keystone XL, the mythical pipeline that might carry Alberta crude from the oil sands to thirsty points south. So, all of that considered,  does the average opposition politician ask the government about rail safety or energy security or natural resources?

Auditor General Michael Ferguson may release interim results of his investigation into Senate expenses. Postmedia’s Jordan Press reports that Ferguson will tell the country all about the expense claims of senior members of the Red Chamber. Add that to the pile of questions the opposition kept on asking about the Wright-Duffy affair, the spate of accusations related to Sen. Mike Duffy, Nigel Wright, and a cast of characters who work, or worked, for the Prime Minister. So, that in mind, does the average opposition politician continue to ask the government about what Prime Minister Stephen Harper knew about the Wright-Duffy affair?

Probably.

UPDATE: Probably, expect some outrage from the NDP benches on Canada Post’s planned cuts. Not only did pro-postal demonstrators target Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s office over the weekend, but NDP MP Olivia Chow will, when she gets a chance, table a motion that supports the daily mail delivery that the crown corporation hopes to cut.

Maclean’s is your home for the daily political theatre that is Question Period, when MPs trade barbs and take names for 45 minutes every day. If you’ve never watched, check out our primer, which we produced with J-Source. Today, QP runs from 2:15 p.m. until just past 3. We tell you who to watch, we stream it live, and we liveblog all the action. The whole thing only matters if you participate. Chime in on Twitter with #QP.

HOT SEAT

Who will be in the hot seat? Hmm, good question. The Prime Minister rarely shows up for Question Period on Mondays, but today’s QP is the first in some time. Suffice to say someone who’s speaking for the PM—funnyman MP Paul Calandra?—will be the someone who’s in the hot seat.

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